Apparatus for assembling storage batteries



Oct. 24, 1933. W. W. HOLE 1,932,136

APPARATUS FOR ASSEMBLING STORAGE BATTERIES Filed Feb. lO, 1932 5 Sheets-Sheet l 2a ,f8 3f :gn/verdor,

Get. 24, 1933. w. w. HOLE APPARATUS FOR ASSEMBLING STORAGE BATTERIES Filed Feb. lO, 1952 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 IE,... I

ot.24,1933. wwHOLE 1,932,136

APPARATUS FOR ASSEMBLING STORAGE BATTERIES Filed Feb. 10, 1952 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Milian llrreno/e aww,

Oct; 24, 1933. w, w. HOLE APPARATUS FOR ASSEMBLING STORAGE BATTERIES Filed Feb. lO, 1932 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Oct. 24, 1933. w w, HQLE APPARATUS FOR ASSEMBLING STORAGE BATTERIES 5 sheets-sheet '5 Filed Feb. l0, 1932 Patented Oct. 24, 1933. l

yUmm STATES PATE-N1 OFFICE APPARATUS FOR ASSEMBLING lSTORAGE BATTERIES vWilliam Warren' Hole, Honolulu, Territory 'of Hawaii assignor to International Battery Company', Limited, Honolulu, Territory ofy Hawaii, .a corporation of Hawaii f Application February 10,1932. Serial No. l592,131.

' 11 claims. (ci. 11a-59) The invention relates to the assembly of storwith a pair of relatively movable plates 22,123, age battery plates and has as an object the proeach plate. beingprovided with staggered comb vision of a device for holding the assembled plates teeth properlyV spaced apart for reception. of the in position while the lug straps are burned to the strap lugs therebetween and the plates when 5 plate lugs. 1 moved to closed position being so formed as to 3 It is a further objectoi' the invention to proreceive thestrap lugs of opposite Lpolarity propvide a device for holding the battery plates in erly spaced from each other. assembly while placing and burning the lug straps The comb teeth 24, 25upon the respective plates upon the lugs in such manner as toprevent access are formed with rectangular recesses between of molten lead to the plates or the'spaces therethem .of suiiicient depth to receive the width of 65 between. the strap lugs and beyond this point are tapered vFurther objects of they invention will appear to a thickness at their ends equal to the thickness from the following description when read in conof the strap lugs whereby when they are closed nection with the accompanying drawings showing with the strap lugs in position there are no open illustrative embodiments` o'f the invention and spaces between or about thek strap lugs. The 70 whereinzlength of theteeth 24, 25 is sufficient to snugly Fig. 1 is a side elevation with the device closed; force` home the opposite strap lug by contact of Fig. 2 is a like view with the device open for the end of each tooth withthe respective lug. removal of the assembled battery elements; In the form of the device under consideration, Fig. 3 is-a perspective view of a plate used t'o the plate 22' is stationarily supported upon la 75 separate groups 'of assembled battery plates; standard-26 shown as secured thereto by means Y Fig. 4 is a plan view of the devicein closedy ofcap screws 2'7. The plate 23 is secured upon position with a bar broken away; 4 a cross member 28 mounted upon'side bars 29, Fig. 5 is a vertical section on line 5-5 of-Fig. .4; 30 having hooked end portions 31, 32, the cross Fig. 6 is a detail side elevation of the device member 28 being provided with slotted vportions 80 open with the battery plates ready for removal; 100 adapted to span the plate 22 to accurately v Fig. 1 is an end elevation taken from the right align the two plates when the device is closed.

of Fig. 1; The said bars 29, 30 are in turn pivotally con- Fig. 8 is a section on line 8-3 of Fig. 1; nectedat 33, 34 to the ends of bars 35, 36, which Fig. 9 is a plan -view of a modification shown bars at their opposite ends are pivotally connected 85 in open position; I Y at 3'7, 38 lto bars 39, 40, which latter bars are con- Fig. 10 is a detail plan view oi the same i'orm nected at their free ends by means of a handle shown in closed position; member 41. The bars 39, 40 are xed upon the Figs. 11 land 12 are vertical sectionson line 9-9 ends of a revoluble cross member 42 at 43, 44. showing the device in open and closed positions As a result of this mounting and connections, as- 90 respectively; and 'suming the device to b e yin the closed position- Fig. 13 is 'a vertical section on line 13--13 of.' shown in Figs. 1 and 4, lifting of the free ends of Fig, 11, bars 39. 40 by manipulation of the handle 41 will As shown in Figs. 1 to 8 inclusive, provision, cause a lowering of the ends of .bars 35, 36 and a 40 is made for holding the plates assembled to be longitudinal movement of the bars 29,30 carrying 95 placed into the machine, in the form o! `a box the plate 23 longitudinally free of the assembled 15 havingan end slidable therein, which end may lugs 21. The longitudinal movement referred to be forced inwardly to clampl the assembled plates will continue until the hooked ends 31, 32er bars and separators together asby meansof an eccen- 2 9, 30 contact with the cross member 42, after tric cam 16 'shown in Fig. 'I operated by a lever which movement of the bars 39, 40 from the posi- 10o 17, said levery being provided with a handle 18. tion shown in Fig. 2 will result in swinging the The said box separate from the machine may beA bars 29.30 and the p1ate 23 tothe position `shown placed in an, inclined 9051171011111 the m9411161 0f in Fig. 6, whereupon the assembled battery plates PIIIBIS COmDOSiDE Stick and the Plates and Sep- `carrying their strap lugs and post connections arators may be assembled `therein and clamped maybe removednom the device, 105

. together by Operation 0f the eccentric leem 16. With the device in the open position, Athe clamp The box may thenbe-placed in the device, guidebox carryingy the' assembledplates may be placed ways 19, 20 being provided for reception thereof. in position. The reverse of the. movements above To close the space between the assembled plates described will then bring the device to the closed carrying the strap lugs 21, the device is provided position shown in Fig. 4, whereupon the lug straps 110 may be yplaced over the plate lugs and burned thereon. y

To move the clamp box toward and away from the assembling position, there is shown a tray 45 slidable in the ways 19, 20 operated by means of a bar 46 having a lost-motion connection 47 with a cross member 48 carried by the ends of bars 49, 50, pivotally connected at 51, 52 to U-shaped members 53, 54 rigidly attached to the bars 39, 40 at a point spaced from their fixed pivot.

To initiate movement of the clamp box away from the plate 22, there is shown a pair of plungers 55, 56 standing in the path of movement of cams 57, 58 rigidly carried by the cross member 42 and impinging at their ends upon the side of the clamp box l5, as clearly shown in Fig. 5. I'Ihe members 53, 54 are formed U-shaped so as to pass about the bars 35, 36 in closed position oi' the device.

To separate the assembled plates sufficient in number for each respective battery, since it is contemplated to assemble plates for more than one battery at a time, devices such as shown in Fig. 3 at 59, each provided with a pair of lugs 60, 61 are provided, the lugs being for coaction with openings 62, 63'in the respective plates 22, 23, and by provision of diierent sized devices v59 and by dif'- ferent placements thereof upon the plates 22, 23, a wide variety of sizes of batteries may be assembled by the device. -To accurately vspace apart the lug straps, the bars 39, 40 are shown as carrying a fixed bar 64, the thickness of which is correct to pass between the lug straps of opposite polarity whenin position upon the plates.

In the form of the device shown in Figs. 9 to 13 inclusive, the toothed plates 22', 23 are both movable and are carried upon slidable plates 65, 66 which in turn are connected at their opposite ends to bars 67, 68 connected to links69, 70, and 71, 72, which links are driven by means of pivoted bars 73, 74 rigidlymounted upon a revoluble shaft 75. The bar 74 is shown as extended to anoperating lever 76 and revolution of the lever about its shaft will move the plates 22', 23' to and from each other in an obvious manner.

In this form of the device the plates may be assembled in a box 77 fixedly carried in the device, the device being desirably placed upon an incline so as to cause the 'plates to lie against eachother as assembled.

Minor changes may be made in the physical embodiments of the invention within the scopeof the appended claims without departing from the spirit thereof.

I claim: 1. A battery assembling device comprising, in combination, a pair of toothed plates, the teeth of each plate staggered with the teeth of the remaining plate and spaced to receive thestrap lugs of battery plates of polarity opposite to that of plate lugs embraced by the opposite plate, the teeth beyond the lug receiving spaces tapered down to the thicknessof vthe said lugs and of a length to abut the lugs embraced by the teeth of the opposite plate whereby said teeth vwhen intermeshed close the space between and about said lugs to prevent access of molten lead to ,the plates during burning on of straps and means to cause relative movement of said toothedplates to and from each other.

' 2. A battery assembling device comprising, in combination, a pair of toothed platesthe teeth of each plate staggered with the teeth of the remaining plate and spaced to receive the strap lugs vof battery platesof a complete cell` therebetween,

resales the teeth beyond the lug receiving spaces tapered down to the thickness of the said lugs whereby said teeth when intermeshed close the spaces between and about said lugs to prevent access of molten lead to the plates during burning on of straps, said teeth of each plate a length to abut and force the lugs of opposite polarity home into the recesses of the other plate, and means to cause relative movement of said toothed plates to and from each other.

3. A battery assembling device comprising, in combination, a stationary and a movable toothed plate, the teeth on each plate spaced to receive strap lugs of the same polarity therebetween and staggered to intermesh with the teeth on the remaining plate spaced to receive strap lugs of the opposite polarity, means to cause initial movement of the movable plate in its plane out `of lug-engaging position and subsequently out of its plane to clear the assembled battery plates for removal.

4. A battery assembling device comprising, in combination, a stationary and a movable toothed plate, the teeth on each plate spaced to receive strap lugs of the same polarity therebetween and staggered to `intermesh with the teeth on the remaining plate spaced to receive strap lugs of the opposite polarity, means to cause initial movement of the movable plate in its plane out oflugengaging position andmeans to align the' plane `of the movable plate 'with the plane of the stationary plate a-s the teeth are brought to intermeshing relation.

5. Abattery assembling'` device comprising, in combination, a stationary toothed plate, a movable toothed plate,'the teeth of each of said plates spaced to-receive platelugs of respective polari- 'ties between their bases and staggered relative to the teeth on the'other plate to intermesh therewith in closed position of the plates, means to initially move the movable plate in its own plane from closed position andsubsequentlyto move the plate out ofv its Vplane'to clear the assembled plates for removal, means to hold assembled elements of a complete cell for application of lug straps to the plates thereof and meansy actuated byfsaid toothed plate moving means to move said holding means to and from position for seating a set of plate lugs in the recesses in the stationary toothed plate.

6. A battery assembling `device comprising, in combination, `a frame, a toothed plate rigidly mounted thereon, a lever pivoted on said frame and projecting beyond said pivot, a link pivote'd to said projection at one end, an arm pivoted to the remaining end ofthe-link, a toothed plate fixed upon said arm, a member xed on said frame upon which said arm initially slidesvto carry the last 'named plate initially in its own plane, a hook l upon the free end of said armto engage said member, movement of the link andarm subsequent to such engagement moving the plate out of -its sliding plane, the sliding plane of'said plate coinciding with the plane of the fixed plate, the teeth of said plates staggered to intermesh when en gaged andspaced to receive strap lugs of battery plates of a complete'cell therebetween.v

7. A battery assembling device comprising, in

combination, a frame, means to clamp battery vplates inassembled position, means slidable on said frame to receive said clamping means, a.

toothed `plate rigidly mounted on said frame to receive the platelugs between the bases of the teeth of said plate, a revoluble shaftV journaled in `said frame, a plunger reciprocably mounted in said frame to init means away from said shaft to actuate said with said shaft, a movabl adapted to intermesh with and to receive from said ilrst n thereof, means said movable p lever to cause able means to fully of said stationary plate.

8. A battery assembling de means to compr s of a complete cell including between plates bearing strap alignment; a pair of h plate staggered position intermeshing the opposite plate and fitting I the respective rows; the ch plate abutting the lugs te teeth whereby to comat occupied by the means to cause relative plane into and vice comprising, in combination: ess and retain the assembled element spacers interposed lugs o! each polarity in toothed plates, the tee with and when in with the teeth on about the strap lugs o ends of the teeth on ea enclosed by the opposi pletely close the sp battery elements; and movement of said plates in their out of operative position.

9. A battery assem combination: means plurality of complete ce plates each carrying teeth spac lugs of respective by said plates ace above th g device comprising, in to hold the elements of a 11s in assembly; a` pair of ed to enclose the means carried to separate and locate lug straps in iate movement of said siidable said plate, a cam rigid with plunger, a lever rigid e plate carryingteeth the iirst named teeth the plate lugs of opposite polarity amed lugs between the bases uated by said lever to move late, and means actuated by said movement of said slidremove assembled plates clear place for burning to the lugs oi the adjacent cells; and means to cause relative movement of said plates to and from operative position.

10. A battery assembling device comprising, in combination: means to hold the elements of a complete cell in assembly; a pair ot plates carrying teeth spaced to receive the strap lugs of respective polarities therebetween; the teeth on eachplate staggered to intermesh with the teeth on the other plates in the space between lugs of opposite polarity; a lever and link means to cause relative movement between said plates to and from lug-enclosing positions and a bar vcarried by said lever means to space lug straps of opposite polaritywhen said lever is in plate-closing position.

11. A battery assembling device comprising, in combination: means to hold the elements of a complete cell in assembled relation; a pair of toothed slidable plates; the teeth upon said plates in staggered relation to intermesh when moved together and spaced to receive strap lugs of the respective polarities carried by the battery plates; the teeth beyond their lug-enclosing portions tapered to the thickness of the opposed lugs and of a length to abut said lugs; a link connected to each of said plates; a. lever pivoted between its ends; said links pivoted to said lever upon opposite sides o! its pivot whereby to slide said plates to and from operative positions and means to guide the movement of said plates.

WIILIAM WARREN HOLE. 

